Recent wildfires have been frequent in Los Angeles, resulting in the destruction of at least 16,000 homes. Homeowners in high fire-risk areas have been seeking ways to obtain home insurance and financial assistance. How long does it take to rebuild homes after a disaster? To address these concerns, the “Community Safety Everyone’s Responsibility” organization (TACF) in Los Angeles held a seminar on the evening of the 25th (Saturday), inviting experts to provide insights.
TACF President Guan Yixiu stated that he has seen enthusiastic social support for residents in disaster areas, demonstrating that the United States is a very compassionate country. However, there are still many disaster victims, including some families affected by Hurricane Helen in South Carolina last year, who are currently living in cold tents this winter, which he finds deeply sympathetic. He hopes that community residents can understand disaster prevention and post-disaster relief application knowledge, allowing disaster-stricken individuals to recover as soon as possible.
Founder of the Los Angeles New Century Insurance Company, Han Weiwen, first shared his experiences in preparing for and managing disasters before and after they occur. Just before the wildfires, he had discussions with friends about preparing for disasters that were expected, such as earthquakes, only to be hit by wildfires shortly thereafter.
He emphasized that after a disaster strikes, residents should be prepared to evacuate within five minutes, have emergency kits ready, including flashlights, drinking water, hiking or sturdy shoes, etc. He also advised having a larger capacity battery on hand and fully charged, as well as having bottled water and food that can be stored for extended periods on standby.
Before leaving the house, it is important to remember to turn off the water, electricity, and gas switches or valves to prevent fires or flooding inside the house. Especially, make sure to close doors and windows tightly to prevent outside flames from being drawn in due to air convection inside the house.
The recent wildfires in Los Angeles have been fierce, causing at least 28 fatalities. Han Weiwen stated that failure to evacuate in a timely manner can put oneself in a dangerous situation.
For homeowners whose houses have been burned, he reminded them that besides applying for insurance compensation, they can also apply for assistance on government websites, including disasterassistance.gov, ca.gov/lafires, etc. Currently, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website provides “Emergency” rebuilding funds of $42,500 per household; they can also apply for “Additional Living Expense” assistance to cover accommodation and dining expenses during the period of house damage, which amounts to approximately $42,500 as well. Business owners can also apply for Small Business Administration (SBA) small business loans.
For homeowners who cannot obtain private insurance, they can purchase the “Fair Plan” insurance. If the funds from this insurance plan are insufficient, “reinsurance guarantees” will cover the shortfall; if it is still not enough, all insurance companies in California will be required to contribute, with a limit; finally, if there is still a deficit, the California government has the authority to issue bonds as a last resort for payment.
Han Weiwen reminded homeowners to pay their home insurance premiums on time to avoid having their insurance cancelled due to late payment.
During the seminar, California-registered insurance broker, architect, and construction contractor Zhang Tianning pointed out many issues that arose from the wildfires. Southern California see…